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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Forest County

Wisconsin · 9,179 residents · 1,014.266 sq mi
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The short version

Forest County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,394. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $131,600. With a median age of 49.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 49.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,179
−8%since 2000
from 10,024 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
9 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 10 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
49.5
+24%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K9K9K10K10K1990201020202024Forest County
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,394
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,023 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,863
+63%since 2000
from $16,451 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
27.2%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade12.2%
US avg: 10%
Information11.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction5.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$131,600
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$522
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $325 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
79.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 78.9% in 2000
20.2% rent
Afford Score
2.7
+14%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forest County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.5%(8,570)
Black1.2%(118)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(108)
Asian0.2%(17)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.8%(677)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic80.3%(7,371)
Black0.3%(32)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(155)
Asian0.2%(17)
Other18.1%(1,665)
Diversity Score41.4%(3,796)
Segregation Score2.4%(222)
Diversity Score
41
+512%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
2
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.2%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.8%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+22%since 2000
from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 54.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
26.5%
−31.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
49.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.0%
−76.9 ptssince 2013
from 85.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Forest County

Yuma County
Pop 9,896
Clearwater County
Pop 9,118
Chattahoochee County
Pop 8,465
Benewah County
Pop 10,508
Places similar to Forest County
Head to head

Compare Forest County to nearby counties

FOREST COUNTY VS
Florence County
Income$61,086+26%
Home value$173,200+32%
Population4,748−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST COUNTY VS
Langlade County
Income$55,878+15%
Home value$158,200+20%
Population19,534+104%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST COUNTY VS
Iron County
Income$55,940+16%
Home value$109,100−17%
Population11,757+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST COUNTY VS
Oneida County
Income$69,371+43%
Home value$238,400+81%
Population38,131+298%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forest County, Wisconsin?

Forest County, Wisconsin has about 9,179 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forest County, Wisconsin?

The typical household in Forest County, Wisconsin earns about $48,394 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forest County, Wisconsin expensive?

In Forest County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $131,600, and the typical rent is about $522 a month.

How educated are people in Forest County, Wisconsin?

About 15.2% of adults age 25 and over in Forest County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forest County, Wisconsin?

About 15.7% of people in Forest County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forest County, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Forest County, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 403 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9501
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 54520ZIP 54541ZIP 54566ZIP 54511ZIP 54465ZIP 54542ZIP 54103
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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